#32: Joseph “JJ” Lacanilao - Music & DJing, Chasing Trends, and Being Unapologetically Authentic - One Thousand Gurus Podcast

Episode Transcript
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J.R. (00:00):
Hello and welcome back to another episode of 1000 Gurus
with me, your host, JR Yonacruz.
Today's guest is Joseph LakhaniLau.
Joseph Lakhani Lau, also knownas JJ, but others in the
nightlife and music industryknow him as Milo.
He's an open format DJ, analumni and staff member of
Academy of DJs, and he is also amember of the DJ collective

(00:20):
Soul Control, a group ofgenre-fluid DJs that all share
the same mentality to spread thelove of new music and sounds
while creating a safe space toexpress themselves through dance
.
So catching up with JJ wasenjoyable.
It was an insightful episode forme, as he's my first live music
performer slash DJ I've had onthe show.
I've had multiple singers onthe show, but it was interesting

(00:40):
to see JJ's career journey frombeing a musical art kid of
sorts to having a career in thelive music and nightlife scene.
In addition to talking abouthis journey of figuring out what
he wanted to do as a kid andeventually graduating from
Academy DJs, we also chat aboutself-care, interests versus
disinterests, boundaries andbeing your authentic self.
If you're a fan of music andyou consider yourself also an

(01:03):
art kid, so to speak, I'm sureyou'll enjoy this episode.
So, without further ado, hopeyou enjoy this episode with JJ
Lakhanilau.
Welcome back to 1000 Gurus.
Please welcome my guest JJ.
Hey guys, my name is JJ.

JJ (01:19):
I also go by Milo.

J.R. (01:20):
Nice.
How do you pronounce your name,Lakhan yeah.

JJ (01:23):
Yeah, so it's La-con-i-lao, la-con-i-lao, La-con-i-lao.
Yeah, I just found out that itmeans.
I think it means like the laststar or something.
I remember my… Interesting.
Yeah, my aunt wrote that downat a Christmas party.
It's something star, looselytranslated.

J.R. (01:41):
Is it from like a certain dialect or like area?

JJ (01:45):
province.
You know, I would like tobelieve, based on just family,
it's Ilocano, but I don't quoteme on that.

J.R. (01:53):
Yeah, that's all good you're like, I think so, I think
so cool, all right, well,anyways, thank you for being
here.
I appreciate it.
Thank you for having me.
Yeah, glad to have you on theshow, so I will go into how I
know you.
We already read your bio by now.
So we met through dance aproject team.
They're both on KND, and so wedanced together for season two
for KINSA's K-Factor 2024 atUCLA, and then you're still

(02:14):
doing stuff with them.
You're going to perform at whatis it?

JJ (02:17):
OC Japan OC Japan.

J.R. (02:19):
But yeah, as a fellow Filipino dancer with a
two-letter name, I feel like wewould vibe well and I think we
did.
I think we met.
What is it like?
End of 2023, right, orsomething like that 2023?
.

JJ (02:29):
Yes, I think we met officially.
After you guys performed, weended up getting pocha.

J.R. (02:37):
Yeah, so wasn't that like Saki's birthday?
Yes, yes.
Okay, so the reason why Iremember this is because it was
Saki's birthday and Saki andYuki but while Yuki was on the
show, let's just say, they dranka little bit too much in the
parking lot and so we weretaking care of them and then you
and I connected and we werejust talking a bit about like
our aspirations and stuff likethat.
So it was really cool toconnect with you and I know that

(02:57):
you do DJing and nightlifestuff, so it was nice to hear
that you were able to be on theshow, because I feel like you
have an interesting career.
Thank you, yeah, so we talkedabout our future goals and I
respect that.
You're constantly like on thegrind.
You're doing what you love, andyou were telling me before this
that you have plans on what youwant to do this year and you're
just constantly in the scene,which is dope Any clarifications

(03:19):
on what else you're up to?

JJ (03:20):
Not really clarifications, yeah, it's just.
It's slow season right now, fordjing at least.
Spring break is just around thecorner, so preparing my
schedule for that, but also, onthe flip side, just prepping
content, trying to start up ayoutube channel next year, so
I'm just like building up thatbacklog for it.

J.R. (03:35):
Nice dope and then by the end we can plug wherever you
want to, or tell them whatyou're up to, so we'll get back
to that.
Thank you all right, so firsttopic, if nothing else.
Oh, no, sorry, let's go into avideo.
Yes, so if you don't mindcarrying this up.
We are both featured here, soif you are, and that was it that

(04:01):
was dope.
We killed it.
Second it Second place.
Let's go Second place, yeah andokay.
Just for the audience note, wewere second place by 0.5 points.
Oh my goodness.

JJ (04:09):
Right and first up.

J.R. (04:11):
Yeah, we were very first in the competition lineup.
So second set but first of thecompetition lineup and we still
got second place by 0.5.
Insane, yeah.

JJ (04:26):
So I don 0.5 insane.
Yeah.
So I don't know.
I think that's a testament tohow dope we were.
Yeah, it's also like havingthat, or having the judges like
score you that high and you havethe rest of the rest of the
show, intermission, and then awhole second half and they were
like, okay, one team maybe didslightly better, but other than
that, like that's a pretty hugecompliment, I would say,
testament to our hard work.

J.R. (04:42):
So oh for sure, dope, I love that set.
I know so good.
All right, let's go into firsttopic.
So, as with all my first timeguests, like origin story, main
influences, background, if youdon't mind connecting the dots
of where did you start off orwhat were you like main
influences when you were younger.
Connecting the dots to likewhere you are today or who you

(05:03):
are today yeah, so I think I canpinpoint where my influences
started.

JJ (05:09):
It was definitely in middle school when I saw my older
cousin his name's adam.
He was in the drama department.
I saw a performance and he justflipped my whole world like
complete 180 and I was like whoa, stage, that's what I want to
do.
So throughout middle school andthen high school performed in

(05:30):
musicals, plays, and that kindof elevated my interest in more
things like dance, just likestage and just in the umbrella
of everything.
And then that's when I startedgetting into more hip hop dances
and stuff with in my highschool, in my all male, shout
out Walnut High School, all male, and yeah, that kind of went

(05:53):
all the way to college andthroughout college dancing in
and out.
That's when I started becomingthe designated aux cord.
Becoming the designated auxcord, so queuing up music,
making the party lively and thenseeing my brother on his 21st
birthday use a whole djcontroller.
I was just like trying to seewhat he was doing on his laptop.

(06:16):
And then that kind of sparkedmy kind of like interest with
djing and how he can blend thissong and the next song like
completely like seamlessly.
And then COVID happened, so Iborrowed his controller.
Throughout all of that, went toYouTube university for DJing
and then officially went to anactual school Academy of DJs in

(06:36):
OC to learn the ropes, thehistory of anything and
everything DJing and I am herenow.

J.R. (06:45):
Yeah, really quick.
Tangent Siblings, how many doyou have?

JJ (06:48):
Yeah, so I'm the oldest out of three or out of two, not
including me.
So it's going to be me, mylittle brother Zach, and then my
little sister Hillary.

J.R. (07:01):
Okay, okay.

JJ (07:01):
And then so you were the designated aux cord.
Was that just by happenstance?
I think so.
So, I think so.
I think everyone trusted mytaste in music.
And then, yeah, they were justlike I remember, at one certain
like I was on a dance team incollege, so, like one party,
they were just tired of playingoff their ipads so they had me
connect to bluetooth.
And then I was just like, okay,let's get the party started.
And then the party wouldprobably go on until 2 am and

(07:23):
I'm just like, guys, I have togo somewhere.
Yeah, I don't want to stay hereforever yeah, come on, let me
go.

J.R. (07:29):
Yes, please.
So then I guess let's take astep back.
So let's say before collegehigh school and then going into
college.
And then after college, whatwere your career aspirations or
life aspirations at that point?
So your mid high school level,like, like, what did you feel
like you wanted to do, what didyou feel like you were good at?
And then college, like what wasyour major and or what you were

(07:51):
, what were you trying to do atthat point?

JJ (07:52):
Yeah, so mid high school, like end of high school, I was
really set on trying the wholeacting thing.
For sure, that was going toauditions and that was in talks
of like agent stuff just to helpme with more bookings and stuff
like that, but never really gotto that.
You were like performing andyou were doing like musicals or
something.
Yeah, I was doing musicals,plays.
I went to maybe four localauditions just for the local

(08:15):
playhouses and stuff just to seeif I could be able to.
But luckily, shout out my dramateacher in high school.
She had actual like real lifeexperiences like outside, not
just being a teacher but justdirecting and like producing and
stuff like that.
So she prepped us for the realworld and she told us like 80%
is going to be a no, but there'sgoing to be like that rare 20%

(08:38):
where you'll be able to book.
So I had that expectation goinginto real world auditions out
of high school.
So I had that expectation goinginto real world auditions out
of high school.
And, yeah, I think it was justbutting heads traditional
Filipino parents butting headsof what I would like to do, what
they would like me to do, andwhat do they want you to do or
what do they imagine for you.
So many different thingsbesides, whatever.

J.R. (08:58):
Like literally everything else.

JJ (08:59):
Literally everything else.
I've gotten a computer engineer.
I've gotten aviation expert.
I've gotten computer engineer.
I've gotten aviation expert.
I've gotten postman Literallyanything they could throw at me
instead of trying this creativeoutput that I was so
passionately on trying to do.
Do you sing?
I used to.
I could carry a tune, for sure,but not professionally.

J.R. (09:24):
If you told me to sing right now it'd probably be
really bad.
Just the standard Filipinogenetics, but nothing on top of
that.
Nothing on top gotcha.
Okay, so you were aspiring togo into acting and whatnot.
And then so in college, whatwas your mindset there?
Like major, wise, or career atthat?

JJ (09:38):
point.
So I had to deal with myparents to be like, hey, you
could still try the acting thing, you could still try to do
auditions and stuff.
I would just like you to dosome of these like core classes,
because I only went tocommunity college so I was only
doing like the pre-reqs coreclasses and then just to fill
that creative outlet void, I hadmy theater classes.

(10:00):
So originally I went to schoolfor computer engineering just to
please my parents and stuff.
Then I flipped the switch onthem where I was just like let's
learn the business side, likemarketing, just so if there's
ever a chance where I do get anagent, I can know the ins and
outs and not be swindled in thatsense.
But that didn't work out eitherbecause prerequisites overlapped

(10:21):
like core classes and itstarted just getting like pretty
tough mentally about what am Idoing?
Am I doing this for me or am Idoing this to just please my
parents?
So yeah, I think I didn'treally have a set idea or set
major going into communitycollege.
But yeah, I think I was onefoot out the door but also
trying to.
I was having like a what do youcall it like?

J.R. (10:41):
a career crisis.
Yes, career crisis for sure.
Yeah, as I feel like mostcollege students going through
that are similar to I.
Was just hanging out with someof my team earlier and it's the
same thing.
Yeah, four of them all careercrisis.
Yeah, yeah, I'm this major, butI also don't really know what I
want to do, so I'm going to trythings out and like that's what
you should be doing.
You should be trying stuff outyeah so then, so you're like

(11:02):
looking at different things andthen so you graduate, or you
graduate, or I did not.

JJ (11:06):
So, yeah, I did not graduate college, I didn't finish
college, but through likefriends from my dance team, I
was able to get a job.
So I wasn't like not doinganything with my life, so it was
just providing for myself atthat point but also taking a
break from like the schoolsystems and stuff like that of
just like me trying to figureout what path is right for me

(11:28):
and if that means like getting amentor and not really like
finishing a school in that sensethen, that's perfectly okay
with me, yeah so you're like uh,I don't want to say this like
an art kid, like an artsy kid,like you know.

J.R. (11:40):
For sure more creative, but you're still not sure what
you really wanted to do.
Or like your quote-unquoteplace in the marketplace, yeah,
all right.
So then, eventually, youstumbled upon music.
Like you said, what do youthink?
Or the way your brain is wired,I guess, from a self-awareness
point of view, what do you thinklends yourself to going towards
?
Like music?
I don't know if that questionmakes sense it it does.

JJ (12:01):
So I think what kind of pushes me for like me for music
is just because there's so manydifferent avenues you could take
with music.
I had a really goodconversation with one of my
friends from academy of djs,where music doesn't necessarily
mean producing.
It doesn't well, it meansproducing but it doesn't
necessarily means producing inan artistic, for, like artists

(12:21):
kind of standpoint.
You there's producing music forcommercials, producing music
for jingles, scores you knowwhat I'm saying like for movies
and stuff like that.
So many different avenues.
And then also for the love ofmusic, it's what is the visual
aspect of that and that can gointo fashion, that can go into
graphic design, that could gointo like, oh, like for a stage

(12:44):
production, like going back tomusicals, like how lighting,
like it can go into so manydifferent creative avenues that
just pique my interests in thatkind of sense.
So I think that's what pushesme still towards music where it
doesn't have to necessarily beso, for example, like a metro
boom in, or like, uh, take heath, like famous producers, where
they just make beats, or DJMustard.

(13:05):
It could be more on avenues ofmore niche things in my opinion.

J.R. (13:10):
So there's a lot of ways you can use that and a lot of
avenues that people might notknow about, but you can do a lot
with it.

JJ (13:16):
For sure, I like that.

J.R. (13:18):
So now switching over I'm not switching over, but I guess,
continuing on the topic ofDJing, my next series of
questions is basically so youtold us you picked up DJing and
then eventually went to Academyof DJs.
I guess, what age were you at?
What is Academy of DJs?
And then, what did you learnthrough that process?

JJ (13:35):
Oh, wow, okay.
So I'm 28 right now.
I probably joined Academy ofDJs when I just turned.
Probably joined Academy DJswhen I just turned 20.
No, I think I was 26, going on27.

J.R. (13:49):
Okay, but did you start DJing.

JJ (13:50):
Before that I did a little bit, yeah, so just like dabbling
, yeah, dabbling in it BedroomDJ.
I was like putting out mixes onSoundCloud just for my own kind
of like enjoyment, just to hearback like what I created, but
also to hey, hey, I'm prettylike semi-serious about this, so
if my friends want to take alisten, it's on SoundCloud.
But yeah, it was on again, likeI said, youtube University just

(14:11):
watching countless hours ofjust DJ tutorials and like
matching it on like this likereally basic, like DJ board that
you could just plug in and playon your laptop.
And yeah, I was like there forthe whole quarantine probably.
And then I got a couple ofopportunities to like actually
DJ in like social settings, likebars and stuff like that, prior

(14:34):
into getting into Academy ofDJs for season 12.

J.R. (14:38):
Cool, all right, so now, what is Academy of DJs?
And then, what did you?
What is that process of?
What do you learn?
What is the whole thing?

JJ (14:51):
Yeah, so, oh my gosh.
I could go on and on about that, but I found out about academy
djs just through word of mouth.
Like a lot of the people in thedance community here in the
laoc area, either it's funny.
They either make a switch intodjing or they become like a
physical therapist because of,like the whole not that, am I
wrong?

J.R. (15:06):
no, you're not wrong, because not that.

JJ (15:08):
I've had a ton of physical therapist friends who do the
same thing yeah, but it's commonbecause, oh, you know what your
body does and you know how totake care of it.
Let's be a pt, or you stilllove dance and you still love
music.
What do you become?
A dj.
So I went the dj route and,yeah, they, I knew them through
word of mouth and then actuallyI applied first for season 10.

(15:29):
Season 10 was a little bitbefore COVID and I finally,
enough, got accepted, but sadlythat's when the world shut down.
I was also having.
I was also planning to go on atrip to the Philippines with my
partner, lauren and she.
We were going to be gone forthe first month of when Academy
was supposed to start.

(15:49):
So I talked to the guy his nameis Dho and I was just like, hey
, I might miss the first month.
Is that okay?
Can I like catch up on work andstuff like that, because I
really want to do this?
He was like, ah, the firstmonth is crucial.
And at that point in time I waslike, damn, okay, I'll just
reapply.
Then Hopefully you guys acceptme.
Fast forward to season 12.

(16:10):
They do accept me.
And now I understand why thatmonth is so crucial, because
that's when you have one-on-oneswith your staff.
You have one-on-ones with yourclass and, like, through the
whole process, I was able tolearn different equipment like
turntables, club equipment likeCDJs, and I was able to learn
the history of it.
They teach you the history aswell as real life application,

(16:32):
like how to set up speakers for,like, weddings, and how to
troubleshoot the equipment justin case.
Like, not everything is likesupposed to be where it's at.

J.R. (16:41):
Okay, so it's a very hands-on technical approach to
be where it's at.
Okay, so it's a very hands-ontechnical approach, like here's
the equipment, how to actuallybe dj, some stuff that you might
have to learn like on the flyif you were just trying to I
don't know bootstrap this thingby yourself, but they're like.
Here's literally what you needto know yeah, I see okay, and so
I can infer that if you'resaying, like season 10, season
12, is it like each season is adifferent cohort of people who

(17:04):
go through it?
So what is that?
I guess what?
One, what is the applicationprocess like?
And then two, what is that sortof cohort experience like, like
how many people and how longdoes it?

JJ (17:14):
last.
So this is actually where thisactually felt like a real school
, because they only accept well,now they accept 14, but during
my season I think our season wasthe last one to accept only 12
and they now being a staffmember for academy djs and like
a teacher and a mentor, theapplications can span between

(17:35):
three to four hundred applicants.
So being one of the rare 12 toget chosen for that kind of
actually felt like I gotaccepted to like my dream school
.
You know, like I never got thatexperience, but that's what it
felt like of just oh god, I hopethey accept me yeah, what's the
application process like?
oh yeah, so it's just, they justgive you a form because they're

(17:55):
very open to people withexperience, people without
experience.
So they, you just fill out.
I think now it's like a googleform of what do you want to get
out of this, what makes youalive?
Like these, like formal, get toknow you questions, and then
after that there's an interviewprocess.
You can get interviewed by oneof the three members on
management and then, if you dowell on the interview, the

(18:17):
one-on-one interview with themthen they make the executive
decision to either keep you onfor the season or respectfully
ask to apply like another time.

J.R. (18:25):
Okay, so it's a, it's a formal application and then an
interview, and then whether ornot, you get on.
How long does this program last?

JJ (18:32):
About six to seven months.

J.R. (18:34):
So it's very like how often?
What is it Every Sunday?
Oh, every Sunday.

JJ (18:37):
Every Sunday to a point.
So I want to say maybe thefirst three to four months is
just Sundays and that's likelearning the ins and outs, like
learning the equipment, learningthe history stuff, like that.
And then the last half ismentorships, so you get paired
up with a staff member and thenthey help you create your very
first set that you're going toperform for your graduation,

(19:00):
which they call Grad Fest, andit's just 15 minutes of you just
performing in front of yourfriends and family, with 100%
production like lasers, lights,visuals, your logo and yeah,
they have a full like promo dayso they get your headshots and
then they post like a big flyerof you to promote the.

J.R. (19:20):
GradFest.
Okay, so I guess, on that, whatdo you feel like was the
biggest thing, or maybe ahandful of things you've learned
that were super valuable foryou in that experience of
Academy DJs.

JJ (19:32):
Yeah, a really big thing that I learned was timing is
everything.
Timing in the sense of like howI got accepted when I got
accepted and like the wholerollout after that.
So I think if I was, if theuniverse wanted me to be in
season 10, then I would be inseason 10.
But I don't think they wantedme.

(19:54):
I don't think the universe orany other higher power wanted me
to be there that time.
So when I did apply, it was, oh, these are the people that are
going to influence you for maybethe rest of your life.
And that also includes, like mymentor, that includes like
everyone that was on staff thatseason, and I think they all
still to this day like what?

(20:15):
Now we're going to be on season17 coming up soon.
Yeah, after maybe five seasons,they're still doing the same
thing and they're still pushingme to become like the artist or
like the creative person thatthey see and I don't necessarily
see that makes sense, okay.

J.R. (20:33):
So that mentorship was like really big for you and the
guidance for sure nice what iscrowd work vibing?
How much does crowd work vibingcount in the class?

JJ (20:43):
oh, so crowd work and vibing I can take that in one or two
ways.
Crowd reading I'm still tryingto get good at it.
Crowd reading in a sense oflike when I'm doing a set, how
certain people are picking up onit.
Oh, it's very it's.
I like broke this down to someof my students where I feel like
djing, even though it is funand it has this really big

(21:05):
spectacle of everything.

J.R. (21:07):
Oh, hey, look at that there, there you go.

JJ (21:11):
Yeah, oh my gosh Shout out.
That was yeah, that's a partyin LA.

J.R. (21:15):
Oh, Dance in LA.
Oh, there you go.
That was at the Hilton.

JJ (21:18):
I believe it looks like it's in LA.
It was yeah, just the view andeverything is just so nice.
And we I think this was we dida day party here for one of my
friend events called strike ajive.
They are also alumni of academyof djs I digress, but anyways,
yeah.
So crowd reading and vibing, itbecomes very psychological.
Even though djing is put onthis like grand scale and like

(21:40):
big lights, flashy lights, likeartists, you are the artist kind
of vibe.
But for some of us, like localdjs and like still trying to get
our names out, it's it dependson where you are in the time
slot.
So if you're opening thenightclub and five or six people
are like coming in and then itstarts to gradually becoming a
little bit more packed, I'm notgoing to be playing so much high

(22:01):
energy music and that's mebuilding the night.
I'm not going to start off withcrazy high energy hip hop.
Let's funnel people in.
Let's show, show them thatthey're gonna have a good time
by playing like nice littlechill r&b throwbacks.
Everyone loves a sing-along, sothis is like a moment for you
to get your drinks buckle upbecause we're gonna have it's
gonna be a long night, I see.

(22:22):
So it becomes verypsychological.
Are people dancing right now?
Or are they going to the bar,because it's not a bad thing if
they're going to a bar, but italso means they're not
necessarily listening Right Likethey're not in the music right
now.
Yeah, my job is to have peoplein the dance floor dancing and
having a good time.

J.R. (22:39):
So then, when you're in the heat of it, right like the
meat of the night, so then howdo you do crowd worker vibing?

JJ (22:49):
Is it just like trial and error?
How do you see the person?
Yeah, so I think it does comewith experience, because
obviously I'm still trying tolearn how to crowd read.
But for me personally I like tohit little pockets of people
and that kind of depends oncrowd reaction.
So if people are really into hiphop and like I see people
jumping around, okay, let's keepthis vibe, and then I'll get
like an idea in my head of atransition or like a mashup that

(23:11):
goes into maybe like adifferent genre.
It's just like test the waters,see what people are feeling,
and if the EDM drop hits andeveryone's jumping up and having
good times, ok, let's keep thisvibe, but that's.
I don't want to like tireeveryone out because if I'm in
the meat of it there's probablyanother DJ after me.
So I don't want them to be likecompletely tired out where they

(23:31):
literally leave after my set.
So I would not play like acomplete EDM set.
I would probably play like oneor two songs and then go back to
like more of the hype hip hop,r&b kind of stuff.

J.R. (23:44):
I see I'm curious as a DJ when you go to other events or
clubbing events, like how do you, what is like the audience
perspective of watching anotherDJ do their set?
Yeah, are you hypercritical?
Or you're like, oh, this isfine.
Or are you like I would havedone this differently?
You know what I mean?
Oh my gosh.

JJ (24:02):
I'll be completely honest.
I'm pretty critical, but I liketo keep my opinions to myself.
Obviously I don't know anyoneof the background, but if I do,
if they're an alumni of academy,I know they were in good hands.
But if I'm seeing like someonefor the first time that I've
never seen spin before, I wouldlisten, but I wouldn't also show
that on my face.
I will still keep dancing, keepvibing.
I don't want to be that one guyin the crowd with a drink, just

(24:24):
like what are you doing?
Yeah, just what is happening.

J.R. (24:29):
I can't be like that.

JJ (24:30):
I'm always here, I'm always, I'm always down to support
other djs and to listen to newsounds.
So I'm dancing, but I'm also Ipicked up on like a skill while
in academy djs of like activelistening.
So it's not necessarilyvisualizing and like having to
look at what the dj is doing.
But if I'm like on the dancefloor and the DJ booth is all on

(24:52):
stage, like I'm activelylistening to hear of oh, he's
bringing in the next song, oh,he's lowering this EQ, and then
this EQ, okay, that works.
And then kind of like making amental note of that, of just,
okay, always a student.
So I'm just jotting it down inmy brain of okay, I liked how
that sounded nice.

J.R. (25:11):
Yeah, as a student of the craft, it's always a good thing
to do.
Yeah, last few questions onthis is so what are some of the
biggest challenges you face asyou are expanding your career in
nightlife and djing and musicand whatnot, and what are some
of the biggest lessons you'velearned overall?
And I guess the follow-up tothat is any advice you have for
other people who want to getinto what you do?

JJ (25:31):
yeah, I think one of the biggest challenges, probably
still to this day, is themonster of social media.
I think a lot of people arereally now utilizing social
media as like their resume,which I totally understand and
like I'm, I've mixed my DJ andmy personal stuff together, so I

(25:51):
, even though it might look likea resume, it's not necessarily
all DJing and I don't know ifthat's a detriment or a good
thing or a bad thing, but that'sjust like who I am as a person.
This is my personal life, butalso I'm spinning on this place
on Friday to come through.
So I think, just navigatingthat of what content hits is it
mashups or is it more of tryingto teach people how to djing?

(26:13):
Like cool little tips andtricks and stuff like that?
I think it's like what avenuedo I take to have people engaged
content wise?
Because I would say maybe alittle bit like the last couple
no, probably the last half ofthe year all I've been doing was
just being to myself but alsoposting where I'm going to be
playing and that's notnecessarily like enough.

(26:35):
Like you have to show peoplethat you do do this for a living
, so it's like giving them areason to come out.
I'm not really the best at that, so that's something I'm still
working on, but at least I'maware of showing people that I
actually have been doing this.
So if you, you want more ofthis, come out on a Friday, come
out on a Saturday.
Yeah, and I think something.
I'm still sorry.

(26:56):
What was the other half?

J.R. (26:58):
So, yeah, like lessons learned the biggest things that
you've learned on this career.
After that as advice to otherpeople, yeah.

JJ (27:04):
So I think, while on this career, I do believe in taking a
break, because it is long hours, long hours, as in maybe using
that time to practice, but alsoI'm really big on supporting.
So it's like being out almostevery weekend.
But everyone needs a mentalbreak and that's either me
taking a month away from thedecks or like taking a week away

(27:26):
from the decks, or taking likea month off from just gigs.
In general, I do think a mentalreset is crucial, even though I
do respect the hustle of a lotof people like they have the
energy to go out.
By all means go out.
Me personally, my socialbattery gets depleted,
especially if it's like Friday,saturday.
Sunday or, and then the nextweek, thursday, friday, saturday

(27:48):
I'm just like I just need towind down play Marvel Rivals,
or'm just like I just need towind down play marvel rivals, or
something like.
I just need to shut my brainoff and not necessarily think
about what's the next gig,what's this, what's this?
As long as I feel like I'mstill content on where I'm at
and like my skill set and mypracticing isn't really negating
my skill set, then I think I'mokay.

(28:08):
And advice, advice, I wouldhave to anyone that wants to try
DJing or have that as like acareer.
I would say go for it.
I would say, but also protectyour peace, because I'm not
saying all promoters are likethis, but you will get some
promoters that are like just init for like the money.
I would say, maybe take acouple gigs for the hell of it,

(28:30):
just to see if you can do it foran hour or so, and then, once
you feel comfortable, remaininga student, learning new ways to
transition and also learning newways to, or learning new ins
and outs of, like differentequipment, because not every
club is the same, so they're notgoing to have the same
equipment every club, so gettingto know the ins and outs of

(28:52):
equipment.
I think are two really bigthings Protecting your peace and
knowing your equipment for sure.
Nice.

J.R. (28:57):
I like it Okay.
So that's a good transitioninto the next topic, which is I
grouped this together, so thisis something that you mentioned.
You might want to talk aboutSelf-awareness, trends,
interests and boundaries.
So could you elaborate on thisidea of being unapologetically
yourself and not feeling theneed to conform to quick trends?

JJ (29:17):
Yeah, so I think I've just recently started being
comfortable in my own skin.
I think it's againunapologetically liking what I
like and not being sosoft-spoken about it.
Just a couple of things off rip.
I love D&D, I love wrestling andI love wrestling and I love
music and djing man of cultureyou know, unapologetically I

(29:38):
love wwe and then on everycouple saturdays I roll dice
with my friends and that's likesomething that unapologetically
I will talk hours and hours on.
But I think it's because I wasso soft spoken about those
things, about liking geeky andnerdy things or like liking
really niche things likewrestling and stuff like that,
because I always had somethingin the back of my mind it's just

(30:00):
a lot, people don't really likethis kind of stuff.
I can't really like connectwith people on this.
I think because that part of mybrain was so loud at that point
I was like, oh, I can't really,I can't really touch base on
this because either one, peoplearen't going to connect with it
or two, I'm going to look like acomplete outsider, weirdo kind
of vibe.
But I think now it's a littlebit more like encouraged to

(30:21):
start speaking about like theniche things that you like at
least for me, if you can go liketwo hours or like an hour just
like talking about your favoritething and I can see that you're
like passionate about it I wasjust like Whoa, tell me more.
Like the energy you give off ofthat just makes it a little bit
more inviting and a little bitmore.
You know it's I don't know if Idon't know if this is going to
be really outdated, but it'slike there's this video of this

(30:42):
guy.
He like bumps into another guyand he's just, oh, like why do
you want to know about me and mygirl?
You want to know about me andmy girl?
And then he asks him somethingabout oh, how did you meet?
Like he asked the guy, oh, howdid you meet?
And then he like completelylike lights up and he's just, oh
yeah, so we like met, like onour first day, and it's all like
.
That kind of energy and thatkind of like invitefulness is, I

(31:03):
think, what a lot of people arescared to talk about, like
their very niche interests.
Like that everyone is likeputting on like a front.
But if you just be yourself,you also invite that energy, you
also invite like thatcomfortableness and I think,
because I talk so so much aboutthe stuff that I like and I'm
very vocal about it, it justgives off that energy of oh,

(31:26):
this is something I'm passionateabout what are some what is,
and then it goes until oh.
So what are you passionateabout?
Passionate about what are somewhat is, and then it goes until
oh.
So what are you passionateabout?
And not having to like worryabout who's this guy gonna judge
me for liking what I like?
It's no like.

J.R. (31:36):
I just told you what I like and this is a safe space
yeah, so it's getting out of ourown heads of what are people
thinking of me and judging mefor my interests.
But you're saying, in the longrun, or being passionate and
speaking on what you enjoy andbeing unapologetically into
those things will allow you toconnect better and deeper with
people.

(31:57):
Yeah, and also, people probablydon't judge you as hard as you
think and if they do, thenyou're probably not your friends
anyways.

JJ (32:01):
Exactly so yeah, it's like a good like gauge on people if
you ask, oh, what are youpassionate about?
And I just go on and on aboutdnd and I see that person check
out.
It was a pleasure.

J.R. (32:10):
It was a pleasure like okay, maybe not too deep in that
yeah, maybe not too deep butyeah, what advice would you give
to people who, like, aspire tobe themselves, but they do have
that?

JJ (32:21):
I think for a lot of people it's the, the social anxiety of,
yeah, wanting to be liked andaccepted yeah, I think social
anxiety is always going to be athing I I still struggle with
sometimes social anxiety whenI'm in a space where it's just a
lot of new faces.
But what I will say about thatis but I will say it's like wow,

(32:42):
sorry, I just totally had abrain fart.
I still had a brain fart.

J.R. (32:47):
Maybe I'll throw in something there too.
I think we already covered this.
But being yourself, I feel likethere's this mental burden that
you have when you're trying tohide yourself, but when you're
authentically yourself and Ithink this is also what you're
saying is it frees you, but alsothe energy is a lot better and

(33:09):
you actually can connect withpeople around you even better
when you are yourself.
Yeah, and I guess my two centson how to be more yourself, I
think it's just lean into thatas much as you can.
And also I think, like yourfriends, who, around you, will
support you in what you enjoy,and you lighting yourself up
will also light them up andinspire them to also be
authentically themselves I thinkit's like a win-win right.

JJ (33:23):
Yeah, for sure yeah, I also think it's like very mentally
draining to keep putting onfronts and they like like
circles back with like djing,because like for an hour you're
like the main character and thenas soon as like the next dj's
on, it's okay, you're back.
So it's not having that kind oflike imposter syndrome, even
though it's like a givensometimes.
It's not having it's likeknowing when to ground yourself.

(33:44):
I guess, and I think beingunapologetically yourself is
very grounding and it also yeah,it also you just it's just like
having that afterglow.
It's like having like, as soonas you start talking
passionately about something,something that you really like,
like there's something veryattractive about that, like
energy wise I like that and thenyou bring up the whole main
character for an hour or whatnot.

J.R. (34:04):
As an introvert I'm like I can see why I'd be drained at
the end of the weekend.

JJ (34:07):
Like dang an hour of being the main character of this whole
scene, I would definitely feeldrained to maybe, yeah, 200
people just like looking at you,like, and then you also just
have the random people that likeare requesting for songs.

J.R. (34:23):
I'm just like we'll see if it happens we'll see, I'll do
my best, but yeah, I'll do mybest yeah the next thing I want
to ask about is clarifying onthis idea of owning your
interests and creatingboundaries with this interest,
so I get the whole owning yourinterest, so I can make
assumptions, but do you want togive your thoughts on those?

JJ (34:43):
yeah, owning your interests.
Again it goes back to beingtruly, like, passionate about
you, your interests, and I thinkfor some people that's it goes
into the lines of oversharingand some people really just get
turned off about that.
It's just, oh, I was just hereto just you're a friend of a
friend, like why are we, likeit's too deep, right?

J.R. (35:01):
yeah, I just want to say, hi not the time and place.

JJ (35:04):
But obviously, when you get passionate about something, it's
like you ramble and you can'tstop until you literally have to
be like, oh, I have to take twosteps back.
You know what I'm saying.
So I think creating thatboundary, especially when you
can gauge it from the otherperson, is very like healthy too
, because I think also through,like personal experiences, like
not everyone's cup of tea, areyour interests and that's

(35:25):
totally fine, that's totallyfine, it's just now, it's having
that mental note and knowingwhat to talk to them about.
And if, like you guys do havethe same interest like, for
example, it's music and it'slike certain artists and stuff
like that that's something forsure you can connect on.
But I know for sure I can'tconnect, like I can't talk
wrestling with you but, yeah,that's like creating that

(35:45):
boundary and it's also creatingthat boundary.
Boundary is a good word, but Ithink the word that comes to
mind is it's like the same thingas like arms reach a little bit
.
It's like some people getreally turned off by like my
interests and stuff like that.
So I think just with mypersonal trauma and stuff like
that, just knowing when to n,with my personal trauma and
stuff like that, just knowingwhen to nip it in the bud or

(36:06):
keep that at arm's reach, ismore of it's a double-edged
sword for sure.

J.R. (36:12):
What about this idea of creating boundaries with
disinterests?

JJ (36:16):
Yeah, so with disinterest, it's like more of the lines of
what I said.
It's like disinterests like ifI take someone that I didn't
know that doesn't, for example,marvel movies, and they go out
with me to a Marvel movie, it'slike making that boundary of oh,
they're not gonna like me, notknowing that I think they're

(36:36):
gonna have a good time and oh,this is gonna be fun for if
they're just there just to justhang out with friends.
Like obviously that's fun, butit's also like now it's kind of
an awkward situation.

J.R. (36:46):
A little bit.
Yeah, it's not communicated.
I guess what in this situation?
What they're disinterested?
In and you don't want to makeyou feel bad if I put them in a
situation.
Yeah, I don't want to forcethis interest on you, exactly.
So, I think, is it the same theother way too?

JJ (37:06):
it's okay, maybe my friend's into this, but I'm not just
communicating that, okay, I'mnot that into it, but I'll come
out or whatever.
Yeah, I think for sure,especially for me, like if it's
something I don't even I havezero knowledge of and I've never
even experienced it, one or twotries doesn't, even it's one or
two tries doesn't hurt anybody.
I would rather try it and knowthat it's like something that
I'm not very comfortable with ornot my cup of tea, but at least

(37:29):
I gave it those one or twotries, like at least I toughed
it out, I tried it and I'll letthat be your interest and then
I'll do my thing over here.
But that's not me, like totallybagging on yourself like what
is this?
it's more or less of that isgoing to be your space and I'm
going to respect that.
So it's.
I will not excuse me, forcemyself upon that where I know

(37:51):
I'm gonna just be like dead,yeah, be like miserable or
something.
Yeah, like, and obviously, likepeople can read that energy,
like it's.
Some people think they'rereally good at hiding it, but
you, I personally will feel it.
I'm just like and that's melike now, checking up on you
every time and, hey, are youokay?
Is everything good?
Do you want you want to grablike some food after and then
like it just, I would saysometimes, for better, for worse

(38:14):
, put me in like lacklustersituations, but one or two tries
doesn't hurt anybody and Ithink for some people to not
even take that chance or to takethat chance of trying, then
it's okay man, like at least tryit before you can actually say
I don't want to do this, likeboth sides right, yeah, giving
it a shot.

J.R. (38:33):
But also, okay, I don't think somebody thinks
self-awareness yeah, for sure.
I want to go back to this ideaof quick trends.
Do you have?
An example of what you mean bythat, like conforming to quick
trends if we can cover it.

JJ (38:44):
Yes, conforming to quick trends.
I think that's just under theumbrella of like social media.
I think, just because everyoneis like on social media probably
every day, it's what is the newsound.
I think conforming to quicktrends in a DJ perspective is
getting a very trendy audio andlike mixing it with something.
Oh, I see, you know what I'msaying.
Like this song or this thing ishype, so let me kind of

(39:10):
leverage that.
I like right now the verypopular at this point in time is
the little wayne song, the.
I was just gonna say it's justdrake saying oh, and then it
goes, and then it goes into theinstrumental, yeah, but you know
what I'm talking about, right,but it's that, but like from a
dj's point of view and from aDJ's kind of like content, it's
like mixing maybe like anacapella with that instrumental
and then having it pop offbecause it's a trending audio.

J.R. (39:33):
I see that happen a lot where it's like a trending, like
Squid Game, and then thesoundtrack.

JJ (39:36):
Yeah.

J.R. (39:37):
It's a big thing, so, but you're saying like that's not
what you should do, or yeah?

JJ (39:43):
I mean, it's for some people .
For sure, I think it'sdefinitely a tool to get their
work out, but also I don't thinkthere's longevity in that.
I see, I think the thing that Iwant to build is like community
and like longevity, with whereI want to take djing and like
music.
Like I want to build acommunity but I also want it to
live as long as I, as long ashumanly possible, and quick

(40:06):
trends yeah, that's cool for thetime, but give it like maybe
three months, maybe even lessthan it's okay.
What do you have to show?

J.R. (40:13):
for it.
You did a trend and it blew up,but what?

JJ (40:16):
yeah, and I think that also goes with making like just
strictly, just no hate again.
Like this is no shade, it'sjust having one mashup in your
room and, yeah, it could getlike viral and it could get
popular.
But it's also like people don't.
Obviously, when people aredoing scrolling, they're not
really thinking about, oh, howmany takes did that take and how
did you get clean audio and didyou record this?

(40:37):
And, like some people, thisthat's what I think about all
the time.
This it's funny too because like, sometimes, like at least for
DJ TikTok and something likethat, like some of the alumni
like on the Academy DJ groupchat, we'll just we'll send each
other videos and it's justthere's nothing plugged into the
mixer.
How's he doing this?
This is, this doesn't makesense.

(40:57):
So, yeah, obviously some peoplelike do fake it for likes, but
also people it's like how longdid you take to prepare this,
practice this and then edit it?
And I think that just itdoesn't in the real world of
djing real world, quote, unquoteit's it doesn't provide you any
like.
Yeah, it provides you maybe theeyes and the likes.

J.R. (41:18):
Yeah, for the short term, but not the longevity.

JJ (41:20):
It's okay, now put that person who did that mashup for a
30 second mashup and put themin front of a crowd and see if
they could do it for an hour,right because those are
different mediums, differentintentions of that artwork yeah,
but it's like you bought a djboard.
Are you just using it to justdo the quick mashups or are you
gonna?
Are you actually like trying to?
Is this like a cool idea thatyou had that you can later do in

(41:41):
an hour-long set, right, I?

J.R. (41:43):
like that.
So it's thinking of theshort-term versus the long-term
and balancing that out.
Yeah, I like it.

JJ (41:50):
Okay.

J.R. (41:50):
Any last thoughts on that before we go to rapid-fire
questions Any final takeaways onDJing.
We'll go back to it.
We have final takeaways at theend.
I think for DJs I like wherewe're at.

JJ (41:59):
Yeah, I like where we're at, for sure.

J.R. (42:01):
I learned a lot.
Okay, Rapid fire questions.
First one billboard question.
If you could put up a sign formillions of people to see, what
would it say?

JJ (42:09):
For millions of people to see.
What would it say?
Just like a random questionAnything, anything, anything.
Mine would be so head ass.
It'd probably be like top threefast food chains.
What are your top three fastfood chains that could like tell
me so much about a?
Person, just make them think,yeah, like you would put shake

(42:29):
shack over in and out no shadeto shake shack.

J.R. (42:32):
I love shake shack, but like.

JJ (42:33):
I'm not like the accessibility I have with in and
out over shake shack is why inand out is above shake shack.

J.R. (42:39):
I like it cool.
Next one what is one of thehardest challenges you face in
your life and would you learnfrom it?

JJ (42:47):
Hardest challenges I faced in life has been the constant
battle between my career choiceswith my parents and I think
I've overcame that by havingthem be at my graduation for
Academy of DJs and they finallysaw that, oh, he's very
passionate in doing this and,like a lot of people can see
that he's very passionate aboutdoing this.
There's nothing wrong withletting him have this chance and

(43:09):
having this chance to likeprove us wrong instead of having
the traditional nurse liketraditional job career choice.

J.R. (43:19):
Self-inflicted wound what is?
Do you have a story aboutsomething that's gone wrong in
your life?
That was your own fault and youcan't blame anyone else?

JJ (43:26):
yes, so I'm really bad with money, something I'm still
working on and, yeah, I justwhen something comes up and it
just really just piques myinterest.
Sadly, money is going to gotowards that.
Is it the best financialdecision?
Probably Probably not, butwe're working on that and I'm
trying to hold back fromspending.

(43:47):
I like it.

J.R. (43:50):
If you could give your younger self advice, what would
it be now?

JJ (43:55):
I would say trust yourself and trust your vision, because,
even though it's not going to bedirectly what you would like,
at least you still have thatcreative output.
Because I know you thrive onthat.

J.R. (44:11):
I like it in the last few years.
What new belief, behavior orhabit has improved your life?
New- belief habit or behaviorbehavior.

JJ (44:22):
yeah, I think it goes back to mental breaks.
I think I've I think I was onsuch a big high after I
graduated academy of djs I'mjust I need to like be in tune
with everything and everythingaround me.
I think that is still true, butthere's also room for mental
breaks, and that's playing videogames, that's literally taking
a nap, maybe, and also justpracticing.

(44:44):
I feel like I could justpractice like in my home setup
and just turn my brain off andjust, even though I'm still
proactive on like where I wantto be.
That's like my mental reset.
There's no expectations,there's no judgment, so just mix
for an hour and then, yeah,just breathe.

J.R. (45:03):
How do you define success and who would you call
successful?

JJ (45:07):
Hmm, Wow, I would say what defines success is if your
career or if your job doesn'tfeel like a job or career.
I think that's like where I canput my like expectations on
success of, just because that'ssomething that I want to achieve

(45:28):
and that's something thatbrings me joy and that's
obviously the end goal.
Someone that I know, or, sorry,you said who's someone that is
successful, I guess, per yourdefinition, per my definition,
Any example.
I had a good conversation withhim.
But the guy that startedacademy of djs, dave deho he has

(45:49):
this long legacy of academy ofdjs.
He started three clubs and hedoesn't have to be.
We had this conversation and hesaid he had to be a little bit
more of like the no person, thatyet the like, very cutthroat
kind of guy.
But I think now, especiallywith the conversation we had,
and he was very open aboutsaying that he's very
comfortable with where he isright now, I think that's the

(46:11):
definition of success.
It's like leaving a legacy ofsomething that you enjoy and
that can like outlive you, andthat's something that he's
currently doing and is stilldoing 17 seasons later in
academy.
Tj's crazy, yeah all right.

J.R. (46:27):
If you knew you couldn't fail, what would you be trying
or what would you be doing rightnow?
Oh, musicals.

JJ (46:34):
If I know I couldn't fail musicals and if I know I would
absolutely.
If I know I couldn't fail and Igot my dream role, I would for
sure audition broadway liketoday.

J.R. (46:46):
Do you have a favorite musical?

JJ (46:49):
oh my gosh, my favorite musical as of right now is
hadestown.
Hadestown, it's based off thislike greek mythology about oh my
gosh, I'm gonna butcher theirnames, but it's eurydices and
it's kind of like those kinds ofnames.
So right now it's just stylewise.
It's like very how would I sayit's oh my gosh, how do I?

J.R. (47:11):
I'm already drawing a place on how to describe it.

JJ (47:13):
But yes, hadestown it's like a love story, but it's also
like to like overcoming your ownexpectations, because I believe
the main female lead and themale female lead, they're like
in hell, it's like Hades, soit's like they're trying to get
out of it and, yeah, I don'twant to ruin the plot or the

(47:34):
ending, but literally yeah, justthe music is so good and I
think I really resonate on someof the themes.
And applying that to real lifebecause that's something I've
learned in theater it's justlike how do you see yourself in
this character and how can youportray that?
As that character which is verycool and it's a good kind of

(47:57):
like mental gymnastics.
I like it.

J.R. (48:01):
Next one follow up to that is if you knew you would fail,
what would you still be doinganyway DJing Nice.
I like it.
Next one follow-up to that isif you knew you would fail, what
would you still be doing anywaydjing nice I like it djing for
sure what is one thing thatyou've been pondering deeply
recently, if anything?

JJ (48:15):
pondering recently, something that's on your mind.
I think I'm always pondering myideas.
I think it's.
I think it's ideas, ponderingmy ideas.
I think it's.
I think it's ideas for DJing,ideas for DJing content stuff.
I do want to start like aYouTube channel.
So it's like pondering, like myexpectations, but also like I I

(48:36):
get a little bit morepessimistic about my ideas of is
this, is it going to work?
Is this going to work, is thisactually good?
But you know that doesn'tnecessarily hold me back of like
trying it at least.
But I think, yeah, it's just.
Is this good enough?

J.R. (48:52):
is always something I'm pondering favorite hot take or
something you think most peoplewon't agree with wrestling is
real.

JJ (49:00):
Wrestling is 100 real, it is .
It's basically a stage play forthe masculinity.
I like it.
It's 100 real.
Some of the stories they cutdeep because you can.
It's.
Yeah, it's like watching amovie in real life.
I would consider it on the sameplane as like watching water
world at universal studios.
You can't doubt the fact thatthat person is jumping off that

(49:21):
ledge for 50 feet.
It's not a magic trick, it'sreal.
Yeah, this is real.
They're hitting them off thatledge for 50 feet.
It's not a magic trick, it'sreal.
Yeah, this is real.
They're hitting them.
They're hitting each other, butit's them knowing the knowledge
of how to hit them where it'snot concussing them, and I think
that's so sick yeah, there's alot more artistry into that.

J.R. (49:37):
Someone put it this way.
It's like people think it's notreal.
It's real, it's scripted, butit's completely real.
You, and, like you said,there's an artistry behind it.
Yeah, what is one of the bestor most worthwhile investments
you've ever made in either time?
Money, energy, etc.

JJ (49:52):
This is going to sound really cheesy, but I think
putting more time into myrelationship with my partner
partner.
I think there was a lot oftimes where it could have went
either or it could have endedfaster than what it is still
standing at right now, but Ithink she this is going to be

(50:14):
really corny and I apologize.
It's all good, lauren will likeit.

J.R. (50:18):
At least one person will like it, no, but it's just that
it's.

JJ (50:21):
I was in a rock and a hard place between some friends that
I had at that time and, like her, and at that time I really was
very muddled about what tochoose.
But it's like now, like fullyinvesting, like my time and my
effort to that relationship andnurturing it to her point and to
my point as well, of what ourcertain kind of like ics or like

(50:46):
our red flags and our greenflags and stuff like that, like
nurturing that also.
She's like, when I say rest,it's usually just spending time
with Lauren and it's definitelyof this is my rest, because I
know I'm in a safe space andthat took a lot of years of
building that safe space, but Iwould say it's at a good point
right now where I can literallycall her any time of the day and

(51:08):
just be like after work oranything like that, and just
being like I had a rough day.
Did you have a rough day?
Oh, you did.
Let's go watch anime.
Let's go watch anime and justbe together and literally just
rest.

J.R. (51:22):
I like it.
I think it's an important thingto underscore for people,
probably in relationships, rightIs?
You can't underestimate thevalue of investing in a
relationship, especially if it'sone you know that it's the real
one, right Is?
You won't regret investing moreinto that because a good
relationship will pay you moredividends for what it gives out
of your life, right yeah, yeah,shout out to lo, she's the real
one.
Really shout out.

(51:43):
Yeah, if you're listening tothis, hopefully you are.
Support your man.
She.

JJ (51:46):
I think she said she is gonna listen to it as soon as it
hops on.
So perfect, that one's for you.

J.R. (51:51):
There you go favorite recent purchase in around the 50
to 100 range that has impactedyour life the most in the last
five months or six months.
50 to 100 range like relativelycheap recently.
How recent are we talking about?
As recent as you want?

JJ (52:07):
So I would say my standing desk.
I would say my standing desk,even though that's not
necessarily 50 to $100.

J.R. (52:13):
There's a little bit more.

JJ (52:15):
But I think investment wise is my standing desk, Because I
can one have an actual desk, butalso two I can recreate the
stage of a.
Djj, like I've memorized to apoint of like how high the table
is, so I'll just literally justhave it standing, move my chair
up and then just startpracticing I like it versatile.

J.R. (52:38):
Last question, for rapid fire favorite books, movies,
videos, articles, media oranything that you share or
recommend the most.

JJ (52:46):
Recommend the most.
I have two, because I would sayone.
I believe everyone should watcha musical, any musical.
It could be Wicked, if you wantto see how that is actually
supposed to be portrayed in,like a stage kind of setting and
two solo movies.
I'm a big advocate for solomovies.
What do you mean by solo movies?
Going to the movies, I'm a bigadvocate for solo movies.

J.R. (53:05):
We mean my solo movies.

JJ (53:05):
Going to the movies by yourself, yeah I'm a big solo
movies and just being immersedin that world.
Both of it very escapism, butat the same time I would.
That's something.
I'm a big advocate for solomovies and at least one musical
in your lifetime.

J.R. (53:19):
I like it.
I mean, I subscribe to that aswell.
I feel like there's a differentexperience watching movie by
yourself as opposed to withsomeone else.
People like to watch moviestogether.
That's fine, but there'ssomething about watching it and
just being in it by yourself andthere's no distractions, or how
is someone else perceiving meas I watch this movie?
It's very meta, but I think Ican't underscore that.
You should definitely try it.
So I agree with that.

JJ (53:39):
Yeah, I think it was funny because I was watching Dune by
myself, like Dune 2, like IMAXand everything by myself, and I
was just like lost in my ownworld.
And then my mind would just belike I think I see myself in
Paul Atreides and I don't knowif that's a bad thing, is that?

J.R. (53:55):
me, is that me?

JJ (53:58):
Why do I?
Why am I so ugh?
But yeah, I also cried bymyself watching Spider-Man
across the Spider-Verse bymyself.

J.R. (54:03):
That's a good movie, and I'm going to full disclosure too
, the reason why I like watchingmovies by myself because on the
off chance I do cry and I'mmore in it as opposed to if I'm
watching with my girlfriend andshe will be like did you cry?
I was like what are you talkingabout?
I'm a man, I don't cry, I, butbecause someone's there, I won't
, and so I'm like I need to dothis by myself because I want to

(54:23):
really be in this.
What makes you cry in a movie?
Great question.
It's the specific themes ofunconditional love, especially
between, like, parents and theirkids.
Love, yeah, love or courage tostand up for what you believe in
, despite the world, likepounding on you to say different
.
It's that sort of like standingon your principles or like a
self-sacrifice hero sort ofthing.

(54:44):
Yeah, I'm just, I'm going togive to the world because that's
the right thing to do.
Yeah, those things will hit mehard, not romance, but yeah.

JJ (54:51):
Yeah, I'm a big.
I believe a majority of thetimes I've cried is when people
just come together for one causeand I'm just like, there you go
.
Yeah, nice, all right, that isit for Rapid Fire.

(55:20):
We'll go into ending questions,so last.
Our first one is gratitude, andthey keep me grounded.
I'm thankful for community, forpeople to keep me in check and
for people to give me the harshrealities of my career, and I'm
thankful for music because I canlisten to any song and put my
own situation in that song andapply it to that Love it.

J.R. (55:40):
Final ask from the audience or final takeaways you
would like to have, you wouldlike them to have for the show.

JJ (55:46):
Takeaways.
I would like, if something isscaring you and you're scared to
try it, I would give yourselfthree counts of a deep breath
and then try it.
I would say I think somethingthat holds a lot of us back is
the courage to try new things.
So, especially with me, becauseI'm very picky and I'm very

(56:12):
picky, in a sense of like, withfood too.
So it's just take a deep breathand then try that sushi that
you've never tried before, andat least you could say you tried
it.
Right, I like it.

J.R. (56:23):
Cool, all right.
Last one when can we find you?
If people want to check outwhat you're up to or reach out
or anything like that, where canthey find you?

JJ (56:29):
Yeah, so I am on Instagram at underscore Milo.
So that's M I L zero, and thentwo additional underscores.
You could also find me onSoundCloud, I believe.

J.R. (56:46):
all the links to all of that will be on my Instagram, so
just check out my.
Instagram and everything will bethere.
Dope yeah, and we'll link it inthe show notes as well as in
addition to everything we talkedabout.
Cool, all right, jj.
That is the end of therecording.
Thank you so much for beinghere.
I really appreciate it.
Thank you for having me Niceand I'll do my final sign off so
to my audience.
Thank you, guys for being here.
I really appreciate it.
Reminder to always be kind toother people, especially
yourself, and reminder that youcan always learn something from

(57:07):
someone if you take the time tolisten.
Thanks for being here.

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#32: Joseph “JJ” Lacanilao - Music & DJing, Chasing Trends, and Being Unapologetically Authentic

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.css-14f5ked{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:2;overflow:hidden;}#32: Joseph “JJ” Lacanilao - Music & DJing, Chasing Trends, and Being Unapologetically Authentic